Estate Sale Blues

[wlewisiii]

I've gotten known as the old camera person at my Church and the church ladies are setting up an Estate sale and they had three cameras they wanted advice on pricing.

1) A Honeywell Pentax Spotmeter with a 50/1.4 - cosmetically perfect except that it's battery compartment has a battery in it that has corroded it shut... :bang:

2) Retina Reflex III - 50/2.8 Xenar - cosmentically near perfect but the syncro-compur is jammed hard in the half open position. Given the way those are put together, I doubt the usual easy fixes would work :bang:

3) Kodak Flash Bantam - neat little camera with neverready, original box, filters, etc but almost no demand even from collectors as near as I can tell. Probably not helped by being an 828 camera... 🙁

So it goes. I'd be tempted by the Retina, but I really don't need another potential basket case in the house.

William

 

[Sonnar Brian]

You have to be damn good to get a Retina Reflex going again. I have the repair manual if you do. I find the IIIS MUCH easier to deal with. Even the Reflex-S is easier; that 18" string that couples the meter to the shutter and aperture dial is not as bad as the gear box in the III and IV.

 

[wlewisiii]

Yeah, that's what I thought I remembered on that one. I told them to mark the shutter issue on the tag so that if someone does buy it they won't be surprised.

William

 

[doubs43]

Will, check your PM's. I just sent you one.

Walker

 

[FrankS]

Just use that Spotmatic without a meter.